Another Zu Thread

Having owned the Druids, Def. 1.5's and now Def. Pros, I can say these are all really different speakers. The Druids are mellower sounding than the other two but also less revealing. All can fill a large room with a handfull of watts. If you're a bass junkie, you'll need subs for the Druids, if you're not, they actually have very nice bass. I love huge bass and the 1.5s weren't enough in my room, but it's a bass vacuum and they seem to be fine for most. None are particularly sensitive to room positioning, as I've had all within a foot of the front wall with no problems.

Not everyone likes the Zu speakers. I'm not sure what the issue is with the Druids, and I'd still have them if I didn't fall into a little money. Lots of folks are very happy with them, but not all. In my giant bass suckout of a room, the 1.5 bass was light and the presence band was peaky. I suspect the active presence band is one reason some folks don't like the Definitions - it serves some music exquisitely but gets agitated with a few keys of a piano and with blazing guitar music.

To solve both problems, I went for the Definition Pros. This required a separate amp and EQ in the bass. I ended up with a Crown K2 and TacT 2.2XP, which fully controls the crossover between the main and sub arrays as well as EQ potential. I drop the presence band down a few db, raise the crossover frequency from the 40 hz in the 1.5s to 65 hz and now I have a setup that will serve ALL music at ANY volume. Yes, I like girl with guitar, yes, I like Metallica, and Snoop Dogg, and heavy electronic, and yes I like to CRANK it some times. Set up this way, even my 2 watt SET amp can happily oblige.

But, it plays very well quietly which is how I normally listen. SET magic and still the ability to bring the house down. It sounds like an Aphile wet dream but it's the real deal. It's also a fairly complex setup but it's transparent, revealing, warm and honest. 20 hz to 20 khz can be as flat as you want in-room or you can choose to skew the response to taste. The subs and mains blend perfectly, as they are essentially coincident.

I'm not one to exaggerate to make a point. The reward is a setup that can be tuned to suit any reasonable listener.

And, oh, flame away all ye naysayers about that which could not be. If I had that attitude, I wouldn't have "made it".

As I stated in my earlier post, rumors abound concerning Zu speakers. The Definition is a no holds barred statement product around which no corners have been cut. It will perform quite well in your larger room and I wish I had a space that large for mine. As for spikes, I suggest you disregard any suggestion that the stock spikes are in any way inadequate. Zu would not design and build their own drivers and develop their own state of the art paint shop and create one of the coolest web sites in audio and offer a professioal version of the Definition, only to mount it on insufficient spikes. That opinion appears to eminate from a majority of one.
When you contact Zu, ask them about the Def Pro. I can't tell you if it something you'll want to try but I'm sure the Zu boys can. Good luck with your trial.

Kthomas: Aktchi - no, I don't have the speakers. I am considering taking the 60-day test drive, but would avoid even that if something about my situation and those speakers would make it an obvious misfit.

OK, in my first speed reading of your post, I misunderstood your situation and thought you were seeking help with getting most out of the speakers you already had. No problem, you have experienced people advising you here. There is no harm in contacting Zu directly either. I wouldn't expect them to say "don't bother trying our speakers" though. But thta's fair enough, because as far they are concerned, figuring out such things is what the trial is for.

What made you interested in Zu? What else is on your short list? Good luck.

macrojack, ignorance is bliss as you have shown, but then again, what could I expect. You are very naive. There are more speakers than you realize sitting upon inferior spikes...

Okay, I will jump in.. First off I will say that the definitions in specific work well on hardwood, possibly a little better response than directly on carpet, but probably cause the floor resonates a little better. However truth is being on hardwood with a rug out in front of them have been the best overall that I have experienced just kill the first point reflection with some type of rug.

I have used the factory supplied spikes.. #1 they are about at least an Inch too LOW for me.. Now I have used Sistrum Stands and Both types of Audiopoints, the 1.5" and 2" versions.

Stock spikes makes them sound far more Muddy, and almost Hollow compared to getting them up a little higher and or with better vibration control on heavier spikes, This is my opinion and might not be completley a rule of thumb in every single acoustic environment. But I lost a bit of impact and 3 Dimensionality with the stock spikes of both the version cut off tips and with the tips Zu can supply.

Solid Brass spikes were far Better feel in the room than the Steel Nubby spikes supplied. Why? Don't know, better energy transfer? Just better Height? Or just better Mass? Well the brass are probably 10 times the weight, they are over 1.5" higher using the 2" spikes as well.. You equate why or how, but yes the Spikes sound quite different no question on that.

The cabinets vibrated much more on the Sistrum stands, the stands worked best on hardwood, but were pretty bad on carpet...

The 2" heavy solid brass spikes sounded the best in all configurations more or less, and they seemed to really eliminate any excess cabinet vibrations as well as bring the tweeter up to 37" vs. 35.5". I hated spending the money on them but they were just better. Experiment its pretty easy, Oh and Flat on the floor with NO spikes I thought would definatley obtain the most increase in Fullness or something and make the room Shake more, well Nope.. On spikes were always better and cleaner Bass and Midrange output whether the stock or Heavy brass spikes were used. I have never tried them on blocks of solid wood so I have no comment.